Statue to the Memory of His Royal Highness the Late Prince Albert, Erected at the Northern Entrance to the Hyde Park, Sydney, Inaugurated on the 23rd April, 1866.

Rare engraving of the bronze statue of Prince Albert which was inaugurated in 1866 and which is on the corner of Macquarie St and, Prince Albert Rd, Sydney.

The sculpture of Prince Albert, also known as Albert the Good, was erected in 1866 and was originally located at the entrance to the Lover’s Walk, the central north-south axis of Hyde Park. The bronze statue of the Prince is approximately three metres high, and is positioned on top of a granite pedestal. Prince Albert wears the robes of the order of the Garter. In his left hand he holds a sceptre and in his right an unrolled scroll. The railings around the statue are modelled on the universal trident, as used at the Exhibition of 1851. The plinth, made of Pyrmont stone, is approximately six metres by just under five metres, and is surrounded by projection pediments, on which it was intended to place lions. The statue is by English sculptor, William Theed the younger, for the Royal Albert Infirmary at Bishop’s Waltham. William Theed (1804-1891) was born in Threntham, Staffordshire. He was educated at the Royal Academy schools, and won the Silver Palette from the Society of Arts in 1820. His services were extensively used by the Royal Family.

The statue was moved in 1922, possibly to the Botanic Gardens, during the construction of the City Circle train line. In 1987 he was again moved, this time to his now prominent position in front of Hyde Park Barracks, gazing earnestly at Victoria opposite.

Reference: Louella McCarthy and Paul Ashton (eds.), Sydney Open Museum Historical Survey, Sydney City Council, 1994, item 21, pp.43-45, xviii

From the original edition of the Illustrated Sydney News.